BBB Scope 1500

handlebarcam wrote:

Someone in Cambridge seems to be selling lights like this (well, probably half the lumens, but that is still far too much when the beam has no cut-off) to anyone and everyone, certainly not mountain bikers on the way to the trails. That is judging by the number of times I have had to shield my eyes from oncoming riders on sit-up-and-beg bicycles with a basket on the front and then a spotlight clipped to that. It makes cycling along the long, straight cycle paths next to the busways like the bombing run sequence in The Dam Busters, only the German searchlight operators have gone crazy. In fact, it's almost as common a sight as people riding with no light other than the tiny torch on the backs of their cellphones, held precariously in one hand, pointing in any direction but forwards.

The policing certainly doesn't help; all they really seem interested in is the publicity of  getting the 'you should have lights!' message across, while handing out token bulbs to people with no lights.

But, as has been said, misunderstanding isn't limited to bike lights. Ask a random sample of drivers to explain what 'dipped' and 'main' beam car lights are...

oldstrath wrote:

It's sold as an MTB light. Except for riding to and from the trailhead I'm not clear why one would use this on road

And therein lies another issue... Why is it being reviewed on THIS website?

Jack Osbourne snr wrote:

oldstrath wrote:

It's sold as an MTB light. Except for riding to and from the trailhead I'm not clear why one would use this on road

And therein lies another issue... Why is it being reviewed on THIS website?

Because it can be used on different settings on a road bike.

My commute takes in main, lit roads, unlit country roads, shared-use paths and completely unlit trails. At this time of year, the trails are pitch black, so it's proper night-time-off-road light territory. I need a light that is suitable for all these conditions.

The idea that any manufacturer would label a light that has various power outputs 'off road only - not for the roadies or roadie Websites' is a bit daft, no? As is the idea that this site caters only for roadies who only have urban road light requirements?

bikebot wrote:

I doubt even warnings will help much. There's a few that seem to have a similar view about lights that some motorcyclists have about loud exhaust pipes. More noise/brightness is always better.

And as far as the law goes, a light that causes "undue dazzle or discomfort" is illegal on any vehicle. UK regulations are about thirty years out of data, and that vague legal definition hasn't been tested and refined through case law.  As the price per lumen keep falling, one or the other is probably inevitable.

On the road it's only on steep downhills & when a car approaches from in front, that bright lights are needed to see where you're going.

Some will remember using Ever Ready D cell lights ~30 years ago. Though they were deficient in many respects, they were used to cycle in the dark at night.

With a full moon, it's perfectly possible to walk in the country without another light - our eyes are remarkably good at working, whatever the light levels.

I love my bike wrote:

On the road it's only on steep downhills & when a car approaches from in front, that bright lights are needed to see where you're going.

Some will remember using Ever Ready D cell lights ~30 years ago. Though they were deficient in many respects, they were used to cycle in the dark at night.

With a full moon, it's perfectly possible to walk in the country without another light - our eyes are remarkably good at working, whatever the light levels.

Remember them? I'm still using mine! Not really of course, but I did have a set when I was a lad.  Still occasionally see a set in use, even spotted an old metal set a few weeks ago (and working!).

There was something in the news in the last year about how rarely we now use our night vision, to the extent that some of us urban types don't really know what it is anymore.  In London at least, the commuters who are using madly bright, badly aimed lights aren't doing so to see, it's down to a few thinking it makes them safer.  Peak stupid was when I saw someone using an ebay special (the CREE XML jobbie) on their helmet, with the strobe setting. 

I love my bike wrote:

With a full moon, it's perfectly possible to walk in the country without another light - our eyes are remarkably good at working, whatever the light levels.

Totally agree, but this product isn't a walking torch.

I could quite easily walk my commute. It's a 30-mile round trip though, so would take 7ish hours. What lights like this one mean for people like me, is that you can still move at a decent pace in pitch black, so bike commuting at this time of year is a viable option.

There are some curious targets in this thread. Rail against the bellends who shine lights in your face or use excessive lights, by all means, but the manufacturers and the review? Have a word.

davel wrote:

I love my bike wrote:

With a full moon, it's perfectly possible to walk in the country without another light - our eyes are remarkably good at working, whatever the light levels.

Totally agree, but this product isn't a walking torch. I could quite easily walk my commute. It's a 30-mile round trip though, so would take 7ish hours. What lights like this one mean for people like me, is that you can still move at a decent pace in pitch black, so bike commuting at this time of year is a viable option. There are some curious targets in this thread. Rail against the bellends who shine lights in your face or use excessive lights, by all means, but the manufacturers and the review? Have a word.

Not raging, just puzzled. I can see why this light for a mixed on and off road commute, although I think there are better, but for a commute purely on unlit roads (25 mile round trip in my case) there are options that are both "friendlier" to other users and a heck of a lot cheaper.

Morat wrote:

This sort of light really should be labelled "Offroad Only"

Yawn, the inevitable old moan.  Should every car with a high beam be marked for off road use only too?

Welsh boy wrote:

Morat wrote:

This sort of light really should be labelled "Offroad Only"

 

Yawn, the inevitable old moan.  Should every car with a high beam be marked for off road use only too?

Thats an incredibly naive comment.

The issue with bike lights like these is that they are generally bought by less experienced riders who simply don't realise that more lumens does not make you safer and can actually make things more dangerous for other road users... Including other cyclists.

In an urban environment, you simply don't need anything like this output to see the road nevermind be seen.

I have had numerous experiences of looking round before changing lane to find myself blinded by the horizontally angled searchlight on the handlebars of the guy behind me. I've not been able to see in front of me never mind complete my manoeuvre.

You don't even need 1500 lumens to ride unlit country roads. I have done several 10-15 mile rides recently in the pitch dark on roads I'd never been on previously with a max output of a notional 600 lumens (2x 215 verified). I didnt need anything like max output to comfortably cruise along at 16-20 mph heavily laden.

Car lights can be put on full beam and are, obviously, abused by a minority...Some cars have lights that are excessively bright in comparison to the norm but nothing compares to a handlebar mounted bike light designed for riding through forests at midnight pointed horizontally at whoever might be unlucky enough to look in its direction. It is, quite simply, dangerous.

Guidance on the use of bike lights should, I feel, be mandatory in both the instructions and on the packaging of ALL modern bike lights and particularly on high-powered models.

Jack Osbourne snr wrote:

Welsh boy wrote:

Morat wrote:

This sort of light really should be labelled "Offroad Only"

 

Yawn, the inevitable old moan.  Should every car with a high beam be marked for off road use only too?

Thats an incredibly naive comment. The issue with bike lights like these is that they are generally bought by less experienced riders

Have you got any evidence for that statement?

[/quote] more lumens does not make you safer[/quote]

Having had my back and pelvis broken by a motorist who did not see my light I have to disagree with that statement.

[/quote] In an urban environment, you simply don't need anything like this output to see the road nevermind be seen[/quote]

If you read the article you will see that the light doesnt have to be used on full power all the time so whichc level of output do you think is too much?

[/quote] I have had numerous experiences of looking round before changing lane to find myself blinded by the horizontally angled searchlight on the handlebars of the guy behind me.[/quote]

I agree that that is annoying, there are inconsiderate people in all walks of life, not just those with lights which can be poorly aligned.

[/quote]You don't even need 1500 lumens to ride unlit country roads[/quote]

No, you dont, but it is much more relaxing to ride with a lot of light when conditions allow.  We could (and did for many years) ride on little incandescent lights giving off not much more than a faint glow.  I know which I would prefer to use.

[/quote]Car lights can be put on full beam and are, obviously, abused by a minority[/quote]

So can bike lights.

[/quote] Guidance on the use of bike lights should, I feel, be mandatory [/quote]

Guidance is given to motorists (and they are even tested on it) before they are allowed on the road on their own but a lot of them still crash, cause damage, kill people and can be inconsiderate so I dont think guidance would help much.

On balance, I still like the idea of a bright front light on my handlebars.